Under the administrative supervision of the Director of Financial Aid to assist in the implementation of financial aid policies and procedures and provide financial aid information to the university community and prospective and current students.

Duties and Responsibilities

Primary responsibility for the administration of the Direct Loan Program and the Federal Work Study Programs, including the assignment of work study students and the management of the process through the Banner system. Responsible for the hiring, scheduling and training of financial aid student staff.

Act as trainer to new staff and an advisor in the Office of Financial Aid, counseling students and parents about financial aid and financing options. Travel as needed to provide financial aid expertise to prospective students. Conduct entrance and exit counseling sessions for current students. Participate in high school visits, college night programs and regional center outreach programs. Reply to student inquiries via web and general correspondence and office calls and visits.

Responsible for student files review, need analysis, verification, awarding and adjusting of aid through manual and automatic packaging method. Responsible for the accurate reporting of federal and state programs as assigned by the director.

Determine student aid eligibility, advise students, parents, and others on general financial aid issues. Keep up to date on current Federal Regulations and trends in the student aid programs. Responsible for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of student programs, as assigned, at LSSU.

Provide staff, students, and parents with information regarding the availability of federal student aid and the eligibility requirements.

Advise students via phone, visits and the web with responsibility for timely and accurate responses to questions and student concerns.

Help students resolve questions and issues with alternative loan programs after federal aid has been exhausted. Monitor and update alternative loan website information, and assure compliance with federal requirements concerning alternative loan options, self-certification and selection.

Supervise the alternative loan process.

Monitor student eligibility throughout the academic year and reduce loan awards and disbursements when students do not achieve satisfactory academic progress or maintain the minimum credit load. Refund disbursements to the appropriate lender/service provider/guaranty agency when appropriate.

Monitor the loan default and delinquent lists, received from loan guaranty and servicing agencies to ensure that students who are in default are not awarded additional financial aid. Send delinquent notices.

Maintain current knowledge of Federal Regulations and trends by reviewing Federal Regulations in the Federal Student Aid Financial Aid Handbook and Department of Education websites.

In the absence of the Director, be responsible for the operation of the office and perform other duties as assigned.

Familiarity with computer systems (SunGard experience preferred) and data entry skills required. Good analytical and math skills required. Bachelor’s degree and minimum of two years experience in financial aid REQUIRED.

Physical and Mental Demands

Adequate physical fitness to be able to sit and concentrate for long periods of time; use of gross motor skills to perform supervisory and organizational duties; use of fine motor skills to operate computer; problem solving ability; ability to understand and work with numbers; ability to see, hear, and speak with or without the use of aids to perform normal office tasks and to represent the University in promotional and recruiting activities.